:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55106101/usa_today_10088548.0.jpg)
If you had told me that Sporting Kansas City would beat Minnesota United 3-0, I wouldn’t have been too surprised. If you told me who the goal scorer’s would be, I may have raised an eyebrow. Granted, Jimmy Medranda’s goal probably belongs to Soony Saad, but still... Even Besler registered an assist.
And it could have been more. Bobby Shuttleworth was forced to make seven saves in a game that saw Kansas City Register 27 (twenty seven!) shots. Overall, SKC largely controlled from the first whistle to the final in a performance that was fun to watch.
Let’s go to the rate-o-matic and crunch some numbers.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United
| Minnesota United | Rating |
|---|---|
| Minnesota United | Rating |
| Bobby Shuttleworth | 4.5 |
| Jerome Thiesson | 4.5 |
| Marc Burch | 4.0 |
| Brent Kallman | 4.0 |
| Jermaine Taylor | 4.5 |
| Justin Davis | 4.5 |
| Kevin Molino | 5.0 |
| Ibson Barreto Da Silva | 5.0 |
| Miguel Ibarra | 4.0 |
| Collen Warner | 4.5 |
| Rasmus Schuller | 4.0 |
| Bashkim Kadrii | 4.0 |
| Christian Ramirez | 4.0 |
| Team Average | 4.3 |
| Sporting Kansas City | Rating |
| Tim Melia | 5.5 |
| Matt Besler | 7.0 |
| Jimmy Medranda | 8.0 |
| Ike Opara | 8.0 |
| Seth Sinovic | 6.0 |
| Saad Abdul-Salaam | 7.5 |
| Benny Feilhaber | 5.5 |
| Gerson Fernandes | 5.5 |
| Ilie Sanchez | 5.6 |
| Soni Mustivar | 4.5 |
| Dom Dwyer | 4.5 |
| Latif Blessing | 4.5 |
| Soony Saad | 4.0 |
| Daniel Salloi | 4.5 |
| Team Average | 5.8 |
Not surprisingly, high marks for Medranda and Ike Opara. I’m not sure this is a game I want to pick to death. Everyone had a solid match. Perhaps the bright spot for me is how well those who will not be going on International duty performed. But really, this is a win I’d just like to watch the highlights from a couple of more times to enjoy.
With the win Sporting go top of the West and sit four points below Toronto FC in the Supporter’s Shield race.
Onward and upward!